Recent events at KPMG Australia have developed into a major corporate governance scandal, following allegations concerning the misuse of confidential client information and questions over how the organisation responded to the whistleblower who originally raised concerns.
In this episode of The HR Room Podcast, Dave and Mary are joined by Rebecca Bowman, Head of Investigations at Insight HR, to examine the case through an Irish HR and workplace investigations lens.
They explore what employers can learn from the KPMG controversy, what constitutes a protected disclosure under Irish law, and why simply having an investigation process isn't enough if that process isn't independent, rigorous and fair.
They also discuss what HR should do when a protected disclosure lands on their desk, when an external investigator should be brought in, the danger of treating a whistleblower as the problem rather than addressing the underlying concern, and why a poorly handled investigation can ultimately create far greater reputational and organisational damage than the original allegation.
Finally, the conversation looks beyond individual investigations to organisational culture: do employees genuinely feel safe speaking up when the issue they're raising goes to the heart of how the organisation operates?
Topics include:
- What happened in the KPMG Australia whistleblower case – and why it escalated so dramatically
- What constitutes a protected disclosure under Irish law
- How employers should respond when a protected disclosure is mixed in with a grievance or other workplace complaint
- What HR and management should do when a potential protected disclosure is first received
- When an organisation should consider appointing an independent external investigator
- How organisations can ensure an investigation is fair, balanced and defensible
- Why organisations should conduct a wider systems review after a serious workplace issue
- What it really takes to create a culture where employees feel safe speaking up
- The role of ethical leadership when allegations could have serious consequences for the organisation
Resources
Here are a few links to media articles covering the case:
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The HR Room Podcast is brought to you by Insight HR, where we speak with HR leaders, legal experts and workplace specialists from across Ireland about the issues shaping the future of work.
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